Hellobee Boards

Kind of...my daughters always say they prefer being with my MIL which breaks my mom's heart. They used to cry sometimes when my mom would come to watch them (2 days/week) but it is much better now. Is he okay at the end of the day? It could be similar to when your child cries when you leave them at daycare but they end up liking being there during the day--but it feels worse because it's family. In our situation they would get excited to see my MIL because she usually has something fun going on and/or her house is fun. My mom is much more low key about the day which I actually prefer to an extent because it's hard for me to keep up with MIL, but the kids of course prefer trips to play places.

I have shared little activities/things to do with my mom in the past (like from Pinterest) especially when we were both struggling with the kids preferring my MIL. I don't think she did any of them, but it's an idea especially since without a sibling/other child there he's still a little young to play on his own for extended periods of time. Also, does your mom take your son to any activities? My MIL is more apt to take our girls (now it's my 2.5 y/o and my 1.5 y/o niece) play places. There aren't a lot of activities offered on my mom's days, but she takes my daughter to the library every week and when she used to watch them different days there were play groups she would take them too (low/no cost).

Instead of dropping your son off to your mom, could you drop him off to your dad since he prefers grandpa? In other words, frame it as "Yay, we're going to see grandpa!" instead of "We're going to see grandma," and have your dad be the one to greet him at the door?

@MsBAM: can you set up a day where you stay at your moms with him and "teach" her how he likes to be played with etc. Hopefully you can encourage her to get more on his level and he will realize that he can enjoy his time there.

I would see if you could set up a little area in their house with some toys for him and some books. It could be just a corner of the family room with a couple of baskets on the floor so it’s not an imposition. I’m thinking like peg puzzles and wooden blocks, or a larger car so your mom is not worried about choking. Also think about what things your mom liked to do with you when you were a child and gear to her interests. We live far from family but my kids look forward to playing with toys at other people’s houses because they are different from the ones they have at home.